Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Reno, NV
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 Reno leads 13 of 23 categories
Reno
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Waukegan
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,077
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,435
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Reno, NV
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,996 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 46°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Waukegan, IL
Pros
Homes cost $298k less ($164,400 vs $462,100)
16% less violent crime than Reno
Rent averages $228/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,360)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Reno by $6,996/yr
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Reno
Median Income
$6,996
$73,073 vs $66,077/yr
Reno
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 81.7°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.8 on the COL index
Waukegan
Violent Crime
16% lower
445.2 vs 529.6 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$298k less
$164,400 vs $462,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Reno, NV | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.8⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $462,100⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,073 ✓ Higher | $66,077 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.2" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.3" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 265,196 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.3% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Reno's cost of living index is 102.8 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Waukegan is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 13 of 23 categories. Reno wins 13 and Waukegan wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Reno to Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($462,100 vs $164,400 median home), income ($73,073 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Reno, NV and Waukegan, IL are about 1,670 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.